Multi-use blanket with attached fastening device

ABSTRACT

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a blanket that can be used as a nursing shield, as well as a baby blanket. In one embodiment of the present invention, two corners of the blanket contain reversible corner flaps with two sides: a covering side, and an attaching side with one or more attached clips. In a first position, the attachment sides of the corner flaps are exposed and the attached clips can be used to attach the blanket to a nursing woman&#39;s clothing to hold the blanket in place while the woman nurses a child. When the corner flaps are folded inside out to a second position, the attached clips become concealed between the corner flaps and the blanket. The clips are out of view and unobtrusive, thus allowing the blanket to be used as a baby blanket.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to blankets for use by children, and, in particular, to a blanket that can be used as a nursing shield.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Packing for an excursion out of the house can be an ordeal for people with small children. Bags can easily become filled with toys and other child-care-related items, including diapers, sanitary wipes, clothing, powders, blankets, and pacifiers. Many people with nursing children find it especially inconvenient to take their children into a public setting for an extended period of time due to the additional problems attendant with nursing their children in public. Many mothers do not feel comfortable nursing their children in public, and many use some sort of shielding device, such as a nursing shield or a baby blanket, to cover their breasts while nursing. Currently available nursing shields are specialized items with unique shapes and intricate straps that have little use other than as a nursing shield. Since women with children of nursing age usually carry many child-care-related items when they leave their houses, each additional item, such as a nursing shield, can represent a significant additional burden. Although baby blankets can be useful for wrapping a child for warmth and comfort, baby blankets often are not effective nursing shields because baby blankets lack rigidity and are difficult to maintain in a shielding position during nursing. Baby blankets often fall out of place during the nursing process, exposing the nursing mother's breast. Nursing mothers have, therefore, recognized a need for easier-to-use, more convenient nursing shields.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a blanket that can be used as a nursing shield, as well as a baby blanket. In one embodiment of the present invention, two corners of the blanket contain reversible corner flaps with two sides: a covering side, and an attaching side with one or more attached clips. In a first position, the attachment sides of the corner flaps are exposed and the attached clips can be used to attach the blanket to a nursing woman's clothing to hold the blanket in place while the woman nurses a child. When the corner flaps are folded inside out to a second position, the attached clips become concealed between the corner flaps and the blanket and are out of view and unobtrusive, thus allowing the blanket to be used as a baby blanket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows the front side of a nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention with two corner flaps in an exposed position.

FIG. 1B shows the back side of the nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A shows the front side of one nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention with corner flaps in a concealed position.

FIG. 2B shows the back side of the nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 shows the front side of one nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention transitioning from an exposed position to a concealed position.

FIG. 4 shows one nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention attached to a nursing mother's shirt and covering her nursing child.

FIG. 5A shows a close-up of the back side of one nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention with a corner flap in an exposed position.

FIG. 5B shows a close-up of the back side of the nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 5A with a corner flap in a concealed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a blanket that can be used as a baby blanket, as well as a nursing shield. In one embodiment of the present invention, two corners of the blanket contain reversible corner flaps with two sides: a covering side, and an attaching side with one or more attached clips. Corner flaps can be placed in several alternate positions to either expose or conceal the attached clip. In a first position, referred to as an “exposed position,” the attaching side of a corner flap is exposed and the attached clip can be used to attach the blanket to the clothing of a nursing woman to keep the blanket in place as a nursing shield while the woman nurses a child. When corner flaps are turned inside out to a second position, referred to as a “concealed position,” the covering side of corner flap is exposed and the attached clip is concealed between the corner flap and the blanket.

FIG. 1A shows the front side of a nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention with two corner flaps in an exposed position. Blanket 100 includes corner flaps 102 and 104. When blanket 100 is in exposed position 106, the attaching sides 107 of corner flaps 102 and 104 are on the front side 108 of blanket 100. Clips 110 and 112 are connected to the attaching sides 107 of corner flaps 102 and 104, respectively.

In the current nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention, the corner flaps are securely connected to the blanket along the perimeter edges of the blanket. For example, in FIG. 1A, corner flap 104 is securely connected to blanket 100 along edges 114 and 116 and is not connected to the front side 108 along edge 118. Edges 114 and 116 meet at corner 120. Clip 112 is attached to the attaching side 107 of corner flap 104 and can be used to removably attach blanket 100 to desired objects, such as the outer garment of a nursing woman. The front side 108 of blanket 100 is shown cross-hatched, in FIG. 1A, and in later figures, to distinguish the front side 108 of blanket 100 from the back side (not shown in FIG. 1A) of blanket 100 and corner flaps 102 and 104. The attaching sides 107 of corner flaps 102 and 104 are shown stippled, in FIG. 1A, and in later figures, to distinguish the attaching side 107 of corner flaps 102 and 104 from the covering side (not shown in FIG. 1A) of corner flaps 102 and 104, the front side 108 of blanket 100, and the back side (not shown in FIG. 1A) of blanket 100. FIG. 1B shows the back side of the nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1A. In the current nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention, when blanket 100 is in exposed position 106, the back side 122 of blanket 100 does not contain corner flaps 102 and 104.

FIG. 2A shows the front side of one nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention with corner flaps in a concealed position. Concealed position 202 can be obtained by turning corner flaps (102 and 104 in FIG. 1A) inside out. FIG. 2B shows the back side of the nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2A. Corner flaps 102 and 104 are located on the back side 122 of blanket 100 and the covering sides 204 of corner flaps 102 and 104 are exposed. The covering sides 202 of corner flaps 102 and 104 are shown with horizontal lines, in FIG. 2B, and in later figures, to distinguish the covering sides 204 of corner flaps 102 and 104 from the attaching sides (107 in FIG. 1A) of corner flaps 102 and 104, the front side (not shown in FIG. 1A) of blanket 100, and the back side 122 of blanket 100. Attached clips 110 and 112 are located inside of the fold between the back side 122 of blanket 100 and corner flaps 102 and 104. Consequently, clips 110 and 112 are covered, and, therefore, hidden from view when looking at blanket 100 either from the front side 108 or the back side 122.

FIG. 3 shows the front side of one nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention transitioning from an exposed position to a concealed position. In other words, the blanket is transitioning from the position shown in FIG. 1A, to the position shown in FIG. 2A. FIG. 3 shows blanket 100 transitioning from exposed position 106 to concealed position 202 in five steps 301-305. Step 1 301 shows the front side 108 of blanket 100 in exposed position 106. Arrow 306 indicates a direction of movement of corner 120 that can be used to transition blanket 100 from exposed position 106 to concealed position 202 (shown in Step 5).

Step 2 302 shows corner flap 104 partially pulled inside out. Corner 120 is pulled toward the center of blanket 100, passing between the front side 108 of blanket 100 and corner flap 104. Arrow 308 indicates the direction of movement of corner 120.

Step 3 303 shows corner flap 104 pulled closer to the center of blanket 100. The covering side 204 of corner flap 104 is visible as more of corner flap 104 is turned inside out. Clip 112 is flipped over and is now tucked between corner flap 104 and the front side 108 of blanket 100.

Step 4 304 shows corner flap 104 pulled towards the center of blanket 100 until edge 118 is turned inside out. Arrow 310 indicates the direction of movement that can be used to transition blanket 100 to concealed position 202 (shown in Step 5).

Step 5 305 shows corner flap 104 in concealed position 202. Corner flap 104 is completely turned inside out and flipped over to the back side 122 of blanket 100. Clip 112 is concealed between corner flap 104 and the back side 122 of blanket 100.

In the current embodiment of the present invention, when the clips are in the exposed position, the clips are accessible and can be used to reversibly attach the blanket to various objects. For example, the clips can be attached to the shirt of a woman to hold the blanket in place as a privacy screen to partially shield a woman and a nursing child while the woman nurses the child. FIG. 4 shows one nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention attached to a nursing woman's shirt and covering her nursing child. Blanket 100 is attached to the outer garment worn by nursing woman 400 while she nurses child 402. Clip 110 is attached to the outer garment, proximal to the nursing woman's 400 left shoulder, and clip 112 is attached to the outer garment, proximal to the nursing woman's 400 right arm. When the nursing woman 400 is finished nursing child 402, clips 110 and 112 can be unfastened from the outer garment and exposed clips 110 and 112 can be covered by turning corner flaps 102 and 104 inside out to concealed position 202, as described above with reference to FIG. 3. Child 402 can then be wrapped in the blanket 100.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of a particular embodiment, it is not intended that the invention be limited to this embodiment. Modifications within the spirit of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In another embodiment of the present invention, corner-flap fasteners are used to maintain the corner flaps in a concealed position. FIG. 5A shows a close-up of the back side of one nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention with a corner flap in an exposed position. Blanket 100 employs hook and loop fastener 500 to keep corner flap 102 closed and in a concealed position while clip 110 is not in use. Hook and loop fastener 500 includes: first strip 502 attached to the back side 122 of blanket 100, and second strip 504 attached to the attaching side 107 of corner flap 102 (not shown in FIG. 5A), which is located on the front side 108 of blanket 100. When corner flap 102 is in exposed position 106, first strip 502 and second strip 504 are on opposite sides of blanket 100 and are unfastened. FIG. 5B shows a close-up of the back side of the nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 5A with a corner flap in a concealed position. In concealed position 202, first strip 502 and second strip 504 can be aligned and fastened to keep corner flap 102 closed and clip 110 covered. A hook and loop fastener is but one of many possible fasteners that can be used to fasten a corner flap in the concealed position. Other fasteners can be used as well, including snaps, hooks, buttons, string and grommets, self-adhesive strips, and magnets.

Other modifications within the spirit of the invention may be made as well. For example, the discussed embodiments of the present invention show alligator clips used as a fastening device to attach the blanket to desired objects. However, other types of fastening devices may be used as well, including: clips that fasten in a manner similar to paper clips, pins that pierce and hold clothing in a manner similar to broaches, fasteners that fasten in a manner similar to bobby pins, and magnetic fasteners. The attached clips can also be used to attach the blanket to objects other than the clothing of a nursing woman, including: a crib, a stroller, a baby carrier, a car seat, and the outside of a diaper bag. The blanket can be made from any number of natural or synthetic fibers of various levels of warmth and softness. Some desirable materials may include flannel and fleece. The blanket can also be made from multiple layers of material. Each layer could be of the same material or of different material. Corner flaps can be of the same material as a front side or a back side of baby blanket, or corner flaps can be made from material that is different from the material used for the front side or the back side of the baby blanket. Corner flaps can also be made from multiple layers of material, with each layer being of the same material or of different material from the material used in another corner flap or the blanket. The size of and shape of the blanket can be varied. The blanket can be any number of shapes, including rectangular, triangular, and pentagonal. Shapes with rounded edges and corners can be used as well. The term “corner flap” is meant to also apply to blankets with vertices that are other than ninety degrees, as well as to blankets with rounded vertices. The number of corner flaps on a blanket can be varied to just one corner flap, or two or more corner flaps. The number of fastening devices per corner flap can also be varied. Each corner flap on a particular blanket may have a different number of fastening devices than other corner flaps on the blanket.

The foregoing detailed description, for purposes of illustration, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description; they are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variation are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

1. A blanket comprising: a reversible corner flap having a covering side and an attaching side; and a fastening device connected to the attaching side of the corner flap, the fastening device on an outer surface of the blanket when the corner flap is in an exposed position and covered when the corner flap is in a concealed position.
 2. The blanket of claim 1 wherein the fastening device is selected from among: an alligator clip; a paper-clip-style clip; a bobby-pin-style clip; a broach-style pin; and a magnetic fastener.
 3. The blanket of claim 1 wherein the corner flap further includes a corner-flap fastener to maintain the corner flap in a concealed position.
 4. The blanket of claim 3 wherein the corner-flap fastener is selected from among: a hook and loop fastener; a snap; a magnetic fastener; a hook; string and grommets; and self-adhesive strips.
 5. The blanket of claim 1 further including one or more additional corner flaps.
 6. The blanket of claim 1 wherein one or more additional fastening devices are connected to the corner flap.
 7. A method for shielding a woman nursing a child, the method comprising: providing a blanket with a reversible corner flap having a covering side and an attaching side, and a fastening device connected to the attaching side of the corner flap, the fastening device on an outer surface of the blanket when the corner flap is in an exposed position and covered when the corner flap is in a concealed position; transitioning the blanket from a concealed position to an exposed position by turning the corner flap inside out; attaching the fastening device to the clothing of a nursing woman; and positioning the child under the blanket.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the fastening device is one or more of: an alligator clip; a paper-clip-style clip; a bobby-pin-style clip; a broach-style pin; and a magnetic fastener.
 9. The method of claim 7 wherein the corner flap further includes a corner-flap fastener to maintain the corner flap in a concealed position.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the corner-flap fastener is one or more of: a hook and loop fastener; a snap; a magnetic fastener; a hook; string and grommets; and self-adhesive strips.
 11. The method of claim 7 further including one or more additional corner flaps.
 12. The method of claim 7 wherein one or more additional fastening devices are connected to the corner flap. 